Chapter 2

He found Chloe in the living room of their Zilker home. The air was thick with an expensive cologne he despised. Liam’s. He placed the divorce papers on the coffee table. “What’s this?” Chloe asked, her voice wary. “Divorce papers.” Her eyes widened. Aghast. Then, the manipulation started. “Ethan, we can work this out. We can raise the baby together. You wanted a child. Since you… you know…” Her implication hung in the air. His supposed infertility. Disgust rose in him, cold and sharp. “I want a divorce, Chloe,” he said, his voice level. “I find you, and this entire situation, repulsive.” Her face contorted. The mask slipped. “Ungrateful!” she shrieked. “After everything I’ve done for our company! Do you know how many men are interested in me?” She snatched the papers, ripped them in half, then into quarters. “No one else would want a broken man like you!” she sneered. She stormed out of the room, slamming the door. His phone buzzed. A text from Sophia. Two images. Stunning, large diamond engagement rings. “Left or right, future husband?” the message read. He looked at the photos. Clean lines, brilliant stones. A new beginning. “Left,” he texted back. He walked into the kitchen, pulled off his simple gold wedding band. He threw it into the trash can. The next day, after delegating his urgent work responsibilities, his phone rang. Chloe. Her voice was saccharine, apologetic. “Ethan, darling, please. It’s our seventh anniversary. I’ve booked our favorite downtown restaurant. A surprise. Please come.” He knew it was a trap. But a small, foolish part of him, the part that remembered the girl he’d loved, made him go. The restaurant was filled with her family. Her mother, Mrs. Davis, gave him a look that could curdle milk. Chloe, dressed to the nines, rushed to him, tears in her eyes. “Ethan, I’m so sorry. For everything.” Her mother chimed in from the table. “Some men just don’t know how to appreciate a good woman. Always failings.” Chloe’s eyes darted to his left hand. “Your ring,” she said, a small frown appearing. “You lost it? Don’t worry, I… I bought you a replacement.” As if on cue, Liam Walker stepped out from a shadowed alcove. He was holding a small, velvet ring box.